He's passionate about Price Hill's future

Price Hill Will has hired Darrick Dansby as its new director of real estate development.(Photo: Provided, Provided)

Darrick Dansby is on a mission: to raise the profile and counter negative perceptions about Cincinnati's East Price Hill, West Price Hill and Lower Price Hill neighborhoods.

As new director of real estate development for community group Price Hill Will, Dansby is passionate about building a great future for the neighborhoods where community pride fights to survive hard times.

A roster of ongoing projects has the potential to reverse the economic misfortunes, he says. And Dansby brings experience and street cred to help make them happen. He previously was executive director of SmartMoney, a financial education and foreclosure prevention nonprofit at the CityLink Center. He also was a director of development in Over-the-Rhine for 3CDC and a project manager for consulting firm DRE Partners.

Dansby, who turns 42 on Saturday, recently discussed with The Enquirer his new role and what he hopes to accomplish.

You've been on this job three months. Why did you take it?

Price Hill Will has been a leading community development organization in the city of Cincinnati. They're intricately involved in community relations, and they're a driver for economic development in Price Hill communities. The work Price Hill Will does helps promote developments, stabilizes neighborhoods and reduces crime and blight.

What is the most misunderstood thing about Price Hill communities?

There's a perception that Price Hill is a crime-ridden, blighted neighborhood. It's really just the opposite. It has a number of valuable assets. It's got strong community engagement, and it's got a lot of people who care about the community.

What's one of the neighborhood's biggest development opportunities?

Glenway commercial development could drive business in the corridor, and the Masonic (Temple) Lodge could serve as a gathering place for everyone in the Price Hill neighborhoods.

Besides money, what could help fulfill the group's mission?

Preparing low-income families for homeownership. I still think that providing housing opportunities is really the best thing we have going to help transform these neighborhoods. Kids in stable homes matriculate through school better, they'll have higher paying job prospects and eventually help end the cycle of poverty. We need to do a better job of explaining that to families.

What do you think the city considers when deciding to support community development groups and their improvement projects?

You have to take a number of things into effect. The economic impact on the neighborhood. Are the funds going to prompt additional development? You have to ensure that there are strong and viable entities and organizations that will be able to continue to build off those projects.

Among Price Hill Will's priorities

• Glenway Avenue commercial development. Price Hill Will is in the early planning stages for remaking commercial properties in West Price Hill along Glenway Avenue. That area includes Price Hill Chili and the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts.

• Single-family housing. The group has a Buy-Improve-Sell program that transforms distressed homes into market-value housing. One project underway, the Purcell Townhomes, could add four residences in East Price Hill. YouthBuild will complete a project by next month to rehab a home at 1017 Fisk St.

• Masonic Temple Lodge. The group owns the historic building in East Price Hill but is awaiting the results of a feasibility study to determine the costs of redeveloping it. Results should be available next month.

• St. Lawrence Square. A public park is being developed at Warsaw and St. Lawrence avenues in East Price Hill. The site is envisioned to feature an entertainment stage for outdoor concerts and movies and a veterans memorial. Advocates call it Price Hill's Washington Park, a reference to the Over-the-Rhine green space that has been upgraded with millions of dollars in improvements from 3CDC and the city. Price Hill Will is targeting a $154,000 commitment from the city of Cincinnati to help spur development of St. Lawrence Square. That's on top of $107,500 the group already has received for the project. Price Hill Will also has been selling commemorative brick pavers to raise money.